The Rise of Sharp Power: Reassessing Influence in the Age of Information Warfare

Abstract

The advent of sharp power is a game-changing development in global influence, and it redefines how power is exercised in?the information age. Unlike hard power, which is coercive, or soft power, which is based on the attractiveness of one's culture and?values, sharp power relies on distorting perceptions through misinformation, propaganda, and the use of such tools as digital technologies to influence open societies. This paper explores the theoretical underpinnings of sharp power, situates it within realist, constructivist, and critical IR?frameworks, and differentiates it from conventional power paradigms. Case studies?of China and Russia provide empirical examples of how authoritarian states systematically leverage traditional and new media, as well as institutional sites, to craft narratives, sow doubt, and reach global audiences. The spread of sharp power?undermines liberal norms, weakens democratic values, and complicates international governance. Addressing it through an appropriate, comprehensive strategy that draws on institutional strength, critical media literacy, technological verification, and global norm development?is necessary. Sharp power,?therefore, is an iconic feature of twenty-first-century information warfare and strategic competition. 

Received: 16 March 2026 / Accepted: 30 June 2026 / Published: July 2026